Patent Community Slams USPTO’s Rush to Retire Old Software Systems Despite Patent Center Problems
Summary
The letter explains that there are more than 80 “failure reports” presently outstanding relating to bugs with the system but that the USPTO has categorized these as “feature requests” and has failed to act on most. A USPTO spokesperson told IPWatchdog that the Office “values all stakeholders’ feedback,” and that it will continue to work with users: “Our goal is to provide high quality service to all who do business with us. We are never done listening, and continue to welcome customer feedback as we retire the legacy EFS-Web and Private PAIR system in favor of modern technology that is more capable of meeting the evolving needs of our stakeholders. We are doing all we can to support them in those endeavors including offering extensive training, and we continue to stand ready to assist all those who need it.” IPWatchdog CEO and Founder Gene Quinn said this is just the latest example in a long history of computing resources offered by the USPTO “being substandard and unacceptable.” Quinn explained: “Indeed, if there were private sector competition possible, the USPTO would have gone out of business long ago because of antiquated, inadequate, and extremely buggy frontline software. It is embarrassing that the repository for innovation in America can’t figure out basic software and is making the conscious choice to plow forward despite the fact that Patent Center is not ready and does not reliably work for its intended purpose.